Las Vegas Weekly

March 17, 2010 · 2:40 PM

Photos: Star chef Todd English officially opens P.U.B. at CityCenter

By Robin Leach

Todd English, center, and his mother, third from left, are flanked by the cast of Fantasy at the opening of Todd English P.U.B. at CityCenter's Crystals on March 16, 2010.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

It took just 4 seconds for celebrity chef Todd English to down an entire pint of beer in a single gulp at the private VIP opening of his new Todd English P.U.B. in MGM CityCenter’s Crystals last night. Todd had 3 seconds left in what is rapidly becoming a new 7-second challenge and tradition at his first pub concept, a modern interpretation of a traditional English pub.

The three-time James Beard Award winner told me: “I picked Guinness because it’s smoother going down so quickly. Creamier rather than sparkling. I could have easily done another pint immediately within 7 seconds, but this is opening night, so I wanted everybody to get a shot!”

Tiny hourglass timers with just seven seconds of sand inside are set up at the bar of Todd English P.U.B., which officially opens to the public today with a benefit fundraiser for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Customers can buy a $20 tall glass, have their brew poured inside it, drink it and take the glass home, while Todd donates the entire $20 of each one sold to the charity.

Already in the pre-opening, one customer managed to down four beers back to back -- each one within the 7-second limit. If you drink it within the allotted time, the drink is free. Yep, that’s right, no charge, on the house. They are all free within seven seconds until you call it quits! (Some reports have said four pints maximum.)

Among the celebrities who turned out for last night’s oyster shooters , shrimp platters, menu items and beer challenges -- also including beer pong -- were the sexy girls from Fantasy at the Luxor and their leading lady Angelica Bridges, Kevin Burke from Defending the Caveman at Excalibur, Chris Phillips of Zowie Bowie and Excalibur headlining comedian Louie Anderson. Todd had his mom on hand for the party, and Denise Truscello shot all our photo gallery pictures.

We’ll have a full review of the P.U.B. here at Vegas DeLuxe tomorrow, but suffice to say it’s an Englishman’s heaven for pub food consisting of Welsh Rarebit, bangers and mash, bubble & squeek and Shepherd’s Pie. I’ll let you in on those taste treats tomorrow and explain exactly what “dirty chips” and “filthy chicken bits” are!

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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